INCIDENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF YEAST SPECIES AND OF <i>TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS</i> IN THE VAGINA OF PREGNANT WOMEN

Abstract

Summary This paper reports the distribution of yeast‐like fungi in 1538 of 6629 vaginal swabs sent for diagnosis of vulvovaginitis over a five‐year period, and compares it with the distribution obtaining in two groups of 1031 and 1085 women studied prospectively. C. albicans was isolated from approximately 95 per cent of yeast‐containing swabs taken from patients with symptoms or signs of vulvovaginitis and from 75 to 80 per cent of yeast‐containing swabs taken from patients being screened in an antenatal booking clinic. Torulopsis glabrata was isolated next most frequently. Only C. albicans and T. glabrata were associated with pruritus. The possible role of T. glabrata in the pathogenesis of mycotic vulvovaginitis is discussed. Six per cent of 1031 women were found to harbour Trichomonas vaginalis and the Trichomonas : yeast ratio was 1:3. Trichomonas infection occurred more frequently in winter than in spring. The incidence of simultaneous infection with yeasts and trichomonads was 0.8 per cent.